INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- There are many who believe Kobe Bryant
is the NBA's best player. However, Reggie Miller remains the
best clutch shooter.

Miller scored 18 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter and
outgunned Bryant down the stretch as the Indiana Pacers rallied
for a 110-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

The rematch of last year's NBA Finals had all of the excitement
with a tie and seven lead changes in the last four-plus minutes.
Travis Best's jumper from the right wing with 18 seconds to play
provided the last lead change and the winning points.

In danger of missing the playoffs, the Pacers trailed 83-74 as
the fourth quarter began but stormed back behind Miller, who hit
10-of-19 shots.

"You know you're going against the champs and we had to do
something," Miller said. "They played pretty well for 3 1/2
quarters but we found a way to stick around and hang around the
game."

"Reggie got hot and we just didn't have an answer for him,"
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

Bryant scored 33 points on 13-of-28 shooting. He dueled Miller
in the final two minutes but missed a potential game-winning
3-pointer from the right corner with two seconds remaining. Al
Harrington tapped away the rebound and time expired.

Jalen Rose scored 19 points and Best added 18 and 11 assists for
the Pacers, who shot 50 percent (36-of-72) and have won two in a
row after a three-game losing streak. Indiana (23-28) is
one-half game behind Boston for the final playoff berth in the
Eastern Conference.

"I thought they were having trouble handling the pick-and-roll
and Travis was doing a good job breaking down the defense,"
Pacers coach Isiah Thomas said.

"It's a big win for our team," Rose said. "Not because it means
more than one game, but because it was against the team that
obviously beat us in the Finals and against a team that
basically nobody predicted we would beat."

Shaquille O'Neal had 35 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers,
who dropped to 2-2 on their six-game road trip.

The Lakers led 83-74 entering the fourth quarter and still held
a 90-81 advantage after O'Neal's hook with 9:54 to play. But
the Pacers went on a 13-4 run and tied it, 94-94, on a jumper by
Jermaine O'Neal with 5:40 left.

A basket by Austin Croshere gave Indiana a 101-98 lead with 3:28
remaining but Bryant dunked and Shaquille O'Neal went inside for
a three-point play and a 103-101 edge with 2:19 to go.

Miller tied it with two free throws and answered Tyronn Lue's
runner with a 3-pointer, giving the Pacers a 106-105 lead with
1:21 left.

"Reggie's a Hall of Famer," Rose said. "We know we can depend
on him to bring not only his attitude to the floor as far as how
he plays and produces, but he's a guy guys like playing with."

"Reggie is Reggie," Shaquille O'Neal said. "He hit some key
shots, including a couple of threes."

Rose appeared to block Bryant's shot but a foul was called and
Bryant made both free throws with 1:09 to play. Miller made a
running bank shot at the other end, but Bryant dribbled across
the lane and threw in a runner for a 109-108 advantage with 36
seconds left.

That set up Best, who went right off the pick-and-roll. When
Shaquille O'Neal did not come out, Best calmly sank the jumper.

The Lakers went to Bryant, who was double-teamed by Miller and
Rose, who knocked the ball out of bounds with four seconds to
play. The ensuing inbounds pass went to Bryant, who missed from
the right corner.

"I had a good look," Bryant said. "The release felt a little
long so I started to shorten it up."

"They still have the rings but it's always good to beat a
top-notch team," Miller said. "They can't afford losses like
this. This one will sting a little bit."